title: Coca-paste seized samples characterization: chemical analysis, stimulating effect in rats and relevance of caffeine as a major adulterant.
abstract: Coca-paste (CP) is a drug of abuse that so far has not been extensively characterized. CP is an intermediate product of the cocaine alkaloid extraction process from coca leaves, hence it has a high content of cocaine base mixed with other chemical substances (impurities) and it is probably adulterated when it reaches the consumers. Despite its high prevalence and distribution through South America, little is known about its effects on the central nervous system. In the present study, a chemical analysis of CP samples from different police seizures was performed to determine the cocaine base content and the presence and content of impurities and adulterants. Some CP representative samples were selected to study the effects on the locomotor activity induced after acute systemic administration in rats as a measure of its stimulant action. The behavioral response was compared to equivalent doses of cocaine. As expected, cocaine was the main component in most of the CP samples assayed. Caffeine was the only active adulterant detected. Interestingly, several CP samples elicited a higher stimulant effect compared to that observed after cocaine when administered at equivalent doses of cocaine base. Combined treatment of cocaine and caffeine, as surrogate of different CP samples mimicked their stimulant effect. We demonstrated that cocaine and caffeine are the main components responsible for the CP-induced stimulant action while the contribution of the impurities was imperceptible.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Celular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avenida Italia 3318, ZP11600 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Ximena
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: López-Hill
authors.forename: José Pedro
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: María Noel
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Meikle
authors.forename: Jessika
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Urbanavicius
authors.forename: Juan Andrés
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Abin-Carriquiry
authors.forename: Giselle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prunell
authors.forename: Eleuterio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Umpiérrez
authors.forename: María Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Scorza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003041:Coca / Q000737:chemistry*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004340:Drug Contamination; D004357:Drug Synergism; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009824:Ointments; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D009824:Ointments; D002110:Caffeine; D003042:Cocaine